As with any kid sensation, the reaction to Hannah Montana covers the spectrum from worship to cat-call.
The kids see her as their very own Elvis Presley. Parents appreciate her wholesome image, self-empowering lyrics and the fact that she wears Spandex underneath those short mini- dresses. And certain critics and naysayers see Montana as the representation of evil Disney and its penchant for the kind of corporate synergy that can only be spelled m-o-n-e-y.
But while most of the music is oversimplified bubblegum pop, the core of this TV show turned pop music spectacle is clean and fun.
At the very least, Hannah Montana is ensuring that power pop will never become an extinct art form.
The screaming kids who took over the sold-out Pepsi Center on Thursday night (with parents in tow) are the future fans of the Beach Boys, Fountains of Wayne and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. This is, ultimately, a good thing.
And the fact that this review contains a complete set-list of Thursday’s show at its end will ensure that more kids under the age of 18 will read this one short piece of criticism than all of this paper’s Rockies coverage from the last season combined.
The catch-up for those living under a rock: On the Disney Channel, Hannah Montana is the alter-ego of everyday student Miley Stewart, played by Miley Cyrus, daughter of country has-been Billy Ray Cyrus, who happens to play her dad on TV as well. Cyrus’ pop shows start out with her as Montana, wig and all, but they later morph into her own persona, which is still a character of some sort.
As parents not-so-subtly checked Rockies scores on their cells Thursday night, the kids yanked the phones from their hands to take pictures of their beloved hero.
Critically there’s not much to the music. “Life’s What You Make It” is a blast of a dance track, and “See You Again” is a fun homage to the Runaways with Cyrus playing the slightly homoerotic bad girl with the perfect pseudo-snarl.
And while the rest of the songs are largely forgettable — Cyrus’ material especially sounds like Montana’s rejected B-sides — there’s something about 14-year-old Cyrus that brings the life out of a kid, and certain adults. She’s a gifted performer, even if her effervescent, lippy smile practically shouts Disney.
“This one means so much to me, my family, my closest friend and now, hopefully, you guys,” Cyrus said before laying into “I Miss You,” a ballad she co-wrote in honor of her grandfather. The song featured Cyrus on acoustic guitar, and it was the only track of her encore — a bold and brave move, even for a girl who can do no wrong.
The set-list from Thursday’s show eerily resembled some otherworldly Andre W.K. set-list from the future: “Rock Star,” “Life’s What You Make It,” “Just Like You,” “Old Blue Jeans,” “Nobody’s Perfect,” “Pumpin’ Up the Party,” “I Got Nerve,” “We Got the Party,” short Jonas Brother interlude while Hannah became Miley, “Star All Over,” “Good and Broken,” “See You Again,” “Let’s Dance, “Right Here,” “East Northumberland High,” “Best of Both Worlds” and “I Miss You.”
